Field cable layer



iNov. 4 1924., v ,5Iv3,937 i A. sElDLER FIELD CABLE` LAYER Filed Aug. 5,19'18 Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER SEIDLER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,T F. C. AUSTIN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS;

FIELD CABLE LAYER.

Application filed August 5, 1918.

To all lwhom it may concern: h

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER SEIDLER, a resident of Chicago, Illinois,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Field CableLayers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for laying flexible members, such asa flexible electrical conductor, in the ground, so that work of thiskind may be facilitated a-nd carried on quite rapidly.

Special objects are to provide a machine of this kind which will cut agroove and lay the electrical conductor or other flexible membertherein, as the machine travels along, and which will force the dirtinto the groove to cover the velectrical conductor or other membertherein, so that the entire work is done by the machine; to provide amachine of this kind which can be steered to the right or the left, andwhich can be coupled to a tractor; and to provide a construction wherebythe,` depth of the groove cut by the machine may be changed or varied atwill.

It is also an object to provide certain details and lfeatures 'ofconstruction and combinations tending to increase the general eiiciencyand desirability of a machine of this particular character.

To these and other useful ends the invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cable orwire laying machine embodying the principles of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a detail section on line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a plan of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front end elevation of said machine, on a smaller scale.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the groove cutter and feeding device by which thecable or wire is laid in the ground.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a suitable body frame 1provided with a seat 2 for the operator, and having a single rear wheelin the form of a roller 3, the front steering wheels 4 being mounted Iona bale-shaped axle 5, the middle portion of which is arranged to rock inkbearings 6 supported by the fifth wheel or turn-table 7 on the lfrontend of the body frame. A hand Serial No. 248,294.

lever 8 is rigidly connected with the middle portion of the bale-shapedaxle 5 and is provided with a locking device 9 to engage the rack orsegment 10 yon the turn-table or ifth wheel, this rocking device beingconnected with a handle 11 conveniently mounted on the upper portion ofthe hand lever 8, and the latter being bent backwardly at its upper endto serve as a steering lever. TWith this arrangement the angle ofthebale-shaped axle 5 can be changed at will, by rocking it in the bearings6, and this will raise and lower the front end of the body frame.

A groove cutter, consisting of a blade 12 is provided at its upper endwith a vertical pivot 13 swivelled in a transverse rock-shaft 14, whichlatter is mounted in suitable bearings 15 on the body `fra-me of themachine. Said groove cutter is provided with a forwardly extending arm16 which is connected by a spring 17 with a bracket or arm 18 on theforward end of the body frame, whereby the groove cutter is yieldinglyheld in operative position. At its rear side the groove cutter isprovided with a curved guide 19, which has a transversely elongated orflared mouth20 at the upper end thereof. A reel 21 is mounted inbearings 22 on the body fra-me, so that it rotates about a horizontallydisposed and transverse axis in rear of the upper end of the groovecutter. The cable or wire 23 to be laid in the ground is wound Ion saidreel and the cable or wire is fed into the mouth 20 of the guide 19during the operation of the machine.

Vhile the machine is traveling forward, a groove is cut by the groovecutter 12 of the desired depth, and the cable or wire is given acontinuous feeding motion through the guide 19 and into the ground,being discharged from the lower and rear end 24 of the groove cutter. Instarting, the end .portion of the cable or Wire can be anchored or heldin any suitable manner, and as the machine then travels forward thecable or wire will be laid in the ground and the roller 3 will force thedirt into the groove and thereby cover or imbed the cable or wire in theground. The depth, as previously explained, can be regulated at will,through the medium of the locking device 9 and the rack or segment 10,so that the cable or wire can be laid at the desired depth in theground. If the groove cutter strikes a stone or other obstruction, thespring 17 will yield,

permiatng' uref-gradire andere@ swing bad;- Ward and slide over theobstruction. if the machine turns to the right or the left, the groove'cutter "vvill then turn aboutpits vertical axis-br pivot 1B, and in thisWay the groove cutter is adapted for self-adjustment in order to preventbreakage should it'strilze an obstruction, and in order that it may folf10W the direction of travel ofthe machine.V V'Vlhile4 they cable orWireis unvvinding, it shifts back and" forth in` theelong'ated mouth orslot 2O at the upper end of the' guide, so thatrit may unwind freelyfrom the reel.y

,The machinefinay jbe .propelled in' any` suitableor desired manner. AFor example, its forvvard end may be provided vvitha draft hook 25, Vonthe forward end of the bracketv 18, by Wlric'h the machine may becoupled to the rear end of'a tractor. i y `As yshovvn and' described,the invention is employed for the purpose of laying 'a lcable or Wireninan open jiield,r whereverv such is necessary or desirable. Ordinarily,this is done by hand, vvhen any attempt is made to bury the cables orWires, but to a large extent theelectrioal conductorslare allowed 'torest on top oftheground. Vith the invention `shoivvn anddescribed,however, the cable or vvireban beflaidin the ground at the desireddepth, very rapidly, 'and in an inexpensive manner. It is alsoobviousthat the inachine 'maybe used for laying other flexible membersin-th'eground, such as flexible pipes orjtubing, or anything' else thatcan be ,ban- Clledll ,this mannere What l claim as my invention is-:-''1, A, loable laying machine, comprising a Vllflole frame, steeringmeans for controlling thejdirection of travel of said frame, agroovecutter depending from the frame and movable under pressure thereon abouta plurality of axes to permit it to Aoperate Ain rough or stonygground,means for directing a cable into the groove-,formed by said cutter, and

meansfor refilling thegro'ove after the 'cable is 'laid tlfleieri-g .2.1A 4cable laying machine, comprising a vehicle frame, means dependingfrom said 1,513,937 e Y Y @,:Fi

frame forv cutting a groove and layingpa cable therein, storage meansfor the cable, andV means for steering the vehicle to the desired courseof travel, said cuttinga'nd cableelaying means being mounted fvvith -a`swivel connection to permit 1t to follow said steering means in changesof direction of travel.

3. A cable laying machine, comprising al rear of saidgroovecutter, saidguide havin'gV aiared opening at the top,a'nd astorage reel for thecable mounted above said guide and from which the cable is directedthrou gli the guideinto Vthe ground. y

4L. In amach-ine for laying a fleXib'le member under ground, a groovecutter,means to feedj the flexible member into the groove behind saidgroove cutter, and a travelingy support for saidY groove cutter -and,feeding means, said feeding means comprising a guide on the rear sideof` saidgroove cutter, and a reel to feed the flexible member to'saidguide, the upper end of said guide being flaredto form a transverse slotin yvhich'the flexible memberl may shift back and forth While univindingfrom "said reel.V

5. In a machine for laying awire or other flexible member in-theground,Athe combination of a body frame, kfront `steering devices adapted foralso raising and 'lowering Athe front end of saidframe, a groove cutterbe; hind the steering devices, 'means behind the groove cutter tosupportthe body"v frame and to travel on the groove cut in the ground, aguide on the rear side of said groove cutter, a .transverse rockersupport on ,said'frvamm a vertically disposed pivot on said rockersupport for the upper end of said'zgroove cutter, spring means toyieldinglyhold,the saidgroove cutter in operative position-,fand meansto supply the Wire orfotherf-iexible member to the upper end voftliesaid guide.

ALEXANDER Serenna-.

